Emerging disease surveillance and response

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Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) continue to pose serious public health threats in the Western Pacific Region. To equip Member States and the Region to address such threats, the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (2010) guides our work to meet the International Health Regulations (2005) core capacity requirements.

All member states have established notified disease surveillance systems. WHO is receiving data on notifiable diseases on a regular basis. Data is stored in a database and analyzed at Western Pacific Regional Office. To disseminate this information, the first issue of Western Pacific Regional Office Communicable Diseases Bulletin was published in November 1999. Electronic data entry system using Internet is now under being tested to facilitate quick reporting and feedback.

WHO has provided support to the Member States in outbreak situations, which include: dispatch of experts in response to government requests; providing supplies and equipment; providing information on diseases and disease control measures; coordination of international investigation teams; and dissemination of information during outbreaks to the Member States and the public.

Singapore, 26 August 2014 - Over 40% of all people globally are now at risk for dengue, which has become the fastest spreading mosquito-borne disease in the world . Collaboration to build regional capacity to avert or lessen the impact of dengue outbreaks is hence key, and was discussed at the Fourth Asia-Pacific Dengue Workshop held from 26 August to 4 September 2014 in Singapore. Through such cross-border collaboration and sharing of dengue information, timely sensing of the dengue situation can improve preparedness within each country in the event of an outbreak.